Lampard – Mikel : Who is the real culprit?

CAUTION :Don’t read if you can’t handle criticism of Frank Lampard. Roberto Di Matteo has kept his faith in the Lampard – Mikel partnership in the Double Pivot role. It worked out for the first two games, because in the first one, we’d already scored two early on. We were never really good after that. In the second game too, we conceded twice and were not very convincing. At Newcastle, Di Matteo benched Lampard and brought Meireles in, we eased through the game. We saw how badly we got thrashed against Atletico Madrid, and had a frustrating game at QPR. Clearly, the Lampard – Mikel partnership isn’t working.

Mikel is a lot better player than people give him credit for. In all these games that we saw the Lampard – Mikel not working well, Mikel has been getting all the stick for it, for making mistakes, losing possession, playing only sideways and backward passes, etc. For me, the real culprit is NOT John Obi Mikel. It is, indeed, Frank Lampard. Frank Lampard, instead of staying with Mikel, and helping with the transition between defence and attack stays forward, which leaves Mikel to deal with the role of two people, which causes problems for him and for the team, leaving us neither good defensively, nor attackingly. Mikel does, or tries to do the job of two players on his own, yet he’s the one who faces criticism while Lampard is hailed for scoring penalties. We have seen, that when Meireles was playing alongside Mikel, Mikel has performed very well, indeed. What can we assume from that?

Lampard hasn’t really got the pace, or the determination, strength, etc to go into attack either. I personally feel he should be dropped to the bench and utilized as a squad player and play Mikel with Romeu, Oscar or Ramires. These are the only solutions that I can see for now although we do need a good passer of the ball in that role as a long-term solution.

What do you think could be possible solutions to our midfield dilemma (if I may call it that)? Do let me know!

Konark Antani

Our support to our Legendary Captain JT & about how the world has misunderstood him!

About Author

festus

Related Posts

Comments

RDM should have the balls to bench Frankie and use Rami/Oscar or Romeu. Frankie is never a holding midfielder and I dont expect him to play any better in that role.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM should have the balls to bench Frankie and use Rami/Oscar or Romeu. Frankie is never a holding midfielder and I dont expect him to play any better in that role.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Good one frm u. Its a sincere solution to solve our present predicament. Ktbffh

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Good one frm u. Its a sincere solution to solve our present predicament. Ktbffh

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM is a chicken……….hw can u be scared of ur playerz,a champz league winning coach.Chelsea needs Pep or Morinho.I woun't be surpised if it is lampard and terry dat drawz the tactics RDM plays.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM is a chicken……….hw can u be scared of ur playerz,a champz league winning coach.Chelsea needs Pep or Morinho.I woun't be surpised if it is lampard and terry dat drawz the tactics RDM plays.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Frank is playing out of position.In QPR game after moses came on,ramires dropped to MF and then we created more chances and lampsy played a better player..in a 4-1(mikel)-2(ramires and lamps)-3..Letting meireles go was big mistake…And Romeu,mikel partnership is too defensive…So want to see Oscar play lot more as a deeper playmaker…Moreover Eden was quite invisisble for some parts of qpr game because he not drop deep like mata to get the ball and spread play….

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Frank is playing out of position.In QPR game after moses came on,ramires dropped to MF and then we created more chances and lampsy played a better player..in a 4-1(mikel)-2(ramires and lamps)-3..Letting meireles go was big mistake…And Romeu,mikel partnership is too defensive…So want to see Oscar play lot more as a deeper playmaker…Moreover Eden was quite invisisble for some parts of qpr game because he not drop deep like mata to get the ball and spread play….

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

And continuing the above comment this left torres all alone..When sturridge came already moses was in and formation had changed like i told earlier…

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

And continuing the above comment this left torres all alone..When sturridge came already moses was in and formation had changed like i told earlier…

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM is playin 2 many playerz out of postion e.g:Bertand,Lampard nd rami…………Players are only played out of postion when u don't have the players 4 that postion, But in our case we got playerz 4 everywhere.Lyk lw we got Hazard,Mata,Moses,Piazon and even malouda if it comes 2 the worst,Cm we got Oscar Rami and even Romeu instead of lampard and RW we got Moses,Oscar,And Sturriage instead of Rami who has no dribbling skills.open ur eyes RDM.Lampard is not the owner of chelsea or founder.it's nt hhis money dat built stamford bridge,so bench him when necssary

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM is playin 2 many playerz out of postion e.g:Bertand,Lampard nd rami…………Players are only played out of postion when u don't have the players 4 that postion, But in our case we got playerz 4 everywhere.Lyk lw we got Hazard,Mata,Moses,Piazon and even malouda if it comes 2 the worst,Cm we got Oscar Rami and even Romeu instead of lampard and RW we got Moses,Oscar,And Sturriage instead of Rami who has no dribbling skills.open ur eyes RDM.Lampard is not the owner of chelsea or founder.it's nt hhis money dat built stamford bridge,so bench him when necssary

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

The problem is not lampard nd mikel but betrand nd ramires plyng as wingers that where the problem is.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

The problem is not lampard nd mikel but betrand nd ramires plyng as wingers that where the problem is.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Lampard actually played well in his position against QPR. I didn't see the live game but I did see a replay today. The problem is obvious. We lacked penetration in from the wings. We play the ball back too often and Torres didn't get much ball because of this. I play football and I know well you need momentum in a game to perform. If Torres had maybe ten chances he would have scored for sure in my opinion but he had less than 5. I only saw two chances. Robbie saw the same thing. I feel Lampard has to accept that he is old and is playing on this club's sentimental mercy. Ramires should be played alongside Mikel and I know he can play there because it's perfectly clear that it works for Brazil,where he plays with Romulu/Sandro in the same system as Chelsea's. Our attacking band of three should be Hazard left,Mata inside and Oscar right. These three interchange positions like Brazil's attacking three-Neymar,Oscar,Lucas Moura. With Mata in our side,the attacking playmaking three should be more potent than Brazil's three. Hazard plays more or less like Neymar.

on Sep 17, 2012

By Anonymous

Lampard actually played well in his position against QPR. I didn't see the live game but I did see a replay today. The problem is obvious. We lacked penetration in from the wings. We play the ball back too often and Torres didn't get much ball because of this. I play football and I know well you need momentum in a game to perform. If Torres had maybe ten chances he would have scored for sure in my opinion but he had less than 5. I only saw two chances. Robbie saw the same thing. I feel Lampard has to accept that he is old and is playing on this club's sentimental mercy. Ramires should be played alongside Mikel and I know he can play there because it's perfectly clear that it works for Brazil,where he plays with Romulu/Sandro in the same system as Chelsea's. Our attacking band of three should be Hazard left,Mata inside and Oscar right. These three interchange positions like Brazil's attacking three-Neymar,Oscar,Lucas Moura. With Mata in our side,the attacking playmaking three should be more potent than Brazil's three. Hazard plays more or less like Neymar.

@author you seriously think RDM have balls to bench Frank Lampard.try Lampard,romeu combination.i believe oscar will do a great job in that position..

on Sep 18, 2012

By Anonymous

@author you seriously think RDM have balls to bench Frank Lampard.try Lampard,romeu combination.i believe oscar will do a great job in that position..

on Sep 18, 2012

By Arthur Osadebe

I think mikel is not our PROBLEM, because he is doing the role given to him in the team. If he is not gud as most of us think. All the coaches that comes to the bridge wont be picking him. Its time Lamps, with all due respect to him, steps aside for some younger players to take over. Mayb in some bigger matches we can then count on his experiences

on Sep 18, 2012

By Arthur Osadebe

I think mikel is not our PROBLEM, because he is doing the role given to him in the team. If he is not gud as most of us think. All the coaches that comes to the bridge wont be picking him. Its time Lamps, with all due respect to him, steps aside for some younger players to take over. Mayb in some bigger matches we can then count on his experiences

The main problem is RDM,dont think he is confident enough to bench star players..the main problem is frank..but its not his fault its not his positon to play in CM..he is an attackin midfielder not a defensive one….i dont think he lacks the talent..but due to age he cant maintain his level every time..RDM just needs to give him playing time for the remaining 30 or early stages of the game..THen i think he can play every week without putting too much pressure on his body and performance!!

The main problem is RDM,dont think he is confident enough to bench star players..the main problem is frank..but its not his fault its not his positon to play in CM..he is an attackin midfielder not a defensive one….i dont think he lacks the talent..but due to age he cant maintain his level every time..RDM just needs to give him playing time for the remaining 30 or early stages of the game..THen i think he can play every week without putting too much pressure on his body and performance!!

RDM want to make lampard happy by letting him play…he(lamp.) do his job well with mikel or get dropped

on Sep 18, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM cant handle the amount of talent he has on his hands, i mean why wud you play Betrand as a wing if we want to play attacking football? Thats total rubbish, we have Oscar, Moses and now Marin is back, but he will still play Betrand and Ramires out of position. I wouldn't be suprised if Roman fired him soon.

on Sep 18, 2012

By Anonymous

RDM cant handle the amount of talent he has on his hands, i mean why wud you play Betrand as a wing if we want to play attacking football? Thats total rubbish, we have Oscar, Moses and now Marin is back, but he will still play Betrand and Ramires out of position. I wouldn't be suprised if Roman fired him soon.

We got a brilliant Brazilian on the bench (Oscar)!! but RDM is prepared to play Lampard and Bertrand out of position.!! would Lampard or Bertrand make the Brazil national football team.The national football team do not give the number 10 shirt and position to any player. Oscar who plays it Fantastically but still RDM will not drop or bench underperforming players. Just give the boy a chance torres would benefit from it to.! How long must we wait for are £25million Wonderkid to do his Thing. Di matteo will start to annoy me if he's just going to play Oscar only in the CAPITAL ONE CUP or shit games. Oscar needs and deserve more to become better in the Premier League and a key player for us. Sorry to say it but Lampard needs to step Aside soon.!! Someone step aside for Lampard when he frist came to Chelsea.

We got a brilliant Brazilian on the bench (Oscar)!! but RDM is prepared to play Lampard and Bertrand out of position.!! would Lampard or Bertrand make the Brazil national football team.The national football team do not give the number 10 shirt and position to any player. Oscar who plays it Fantastically but still RDM will not drop or bench underperforming players. Just give the boy a chance torres would benefit from it to.! How long must we wait for are £25million Wonderkid to do his Thing. Di matteo will start to annoy me if he's just going to play Oscar only in the CAPITAL ONE CUP or shit games. Oscar needs and deserve more to become better in the Premier League and a key player for us. Sorry to say it but Lampard needs to step Aside soon.!! Someone step aside for Lampard when he frist came to Chelsea.